Can pranayama, deep breathing prevent COPD? Know its benefits for lung health

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New Delhi: One of the most basic yet sometimes disregarded components of health is breathing. Although we breathe automatically, our general well-being can be much improved by the manner we breathe. Controlled breathing, according to scientific studies and age-old yogic breathing techniques like pranayama, seems to help manage respiratory diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), improve lung function, and increase oxygenation.

In an interaction with News9Live, Dr Manjunath PH, Consultant Interventional Pulmonologist, Gleneagles BGS Hospital, Kengeri, Bengaluru, spoke about breathing exercises and their ability to prevent diseases.

The Science of Breathing Strategies:

Although the lungs are vital for oxygen exchange, our lives, characterized by stress, pollution, and inactive behaviour—can cause shallow breathing, therefore compromising lung effectiveness. Using deep breathing exercises, these problems are countered by:

1. Promoting complete lung expansion and improved oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange will help to increase lung capacity.
2. Working the diaphragm and intercostal muscles helps to strengthen respiratory muscles, hence increasing endurance.
3. By lowering stress hormones, controlled breathing helps reduce inflammation and reduce risk of lung diseases.

Pranayama: A Tested Method for Improved Lung Function

Pranayama is a yogic technique for controlling breath to improve mental and physical condition. Several forms of pranayama especially help lung conditions:

1. Diaphragmatic Breathing (Belly Breathing): Promotes deep breathing by substituting the diaphragm for superficial chest movement. Increases oxygen intake and, over time, strengthens the lungs.
2. Anulom Vilom, alternate nostril breathing: For those with mild breathing problems brought on by allergies or stress-related shortness of breath, this helps clear nasal passages, regulate oxygenation, and encourage tranquility.
3. To increase lung flexibility, a strong technique called Bhastrika: Bellows Breathing involves vigorous inhalations and exhalations. It might help COPD sufferers’ respiratory stamina to be better.
4. Kapalabhati—Skull-Shining Breath: Quick nose exhalations help to remove mucus and increase airflow, thereby helping to improve oxygen supply and clean the lungs.

Asthma and COPD Breathing Strategies

Asthma and COPD patients commonly suffer from impaired lung function, airway inflammation, and dyspnea. Although pranayama cannot treat these disorders, research indicates that regular practice can:

1. Over time, increase oxygenation and lung capacity.
2. Improved airway control will help to lower attack frequency and intensity.
3. Help patients control their breathing patterns to help lower dyspnea connected to worry.

Clinical evidence bolstering breathing exercises:

Numerous studies draw attention to how well deep breathing activities maintain respiratory health:

1. Pranayama helped COPD sufferers’ lung function by lowering their symptoms, including dyspnea, according to a 2020 study in the Journal of Pulmonary Medicine.
2. Pranayama reportedly improved respiratory muscle strength and lower oxidative stress according to another study in the Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology.
3. In particular, Harvard Medical School studies indicate that deep breathing triggers the parasympathetic nervous system, therefore lowering inflammation and increasing lung efficiency.

Practical Advice on Including Breathing Techniques

Patients with lung problems should start with mild exercises like diaphragmatic breathing, then go on to advanced pranayama slowly. Practice in spotless surroundings. Pollutants might aggravate the lungs; so, choose a well-ventilated area.

Maintain consistency: Over time, just ten to fifteen minutes of daily practice can have major results.
Those with serious respiratory issues should see a pulmonologist before beginning pranayama. Particularly, pranayama, breathing exercises, provide a natural and efficient approach to enhance lung condition. Although they cannot replace medical treatment, they can augment traditional treatments by improving oxygenation, strengthening lung function, and lowering respiratory discomfort. One easy but effective first step toward improved lung health and general well-being is including controlled breathing into daily living.

Under the direction of a pulmonologist, systematic breathing exercises for those with asthma, COPD, or other respiratory conditions can be quite beneficial to their treatment plan.

 Under the direction of a pulmonologist, systematic breathing exercises—for those with asthma, COPD, or other respiratory conditions—can be quite beneficial to their treatment plan.  Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare